Hobbies and Crafts

Ann's right of course but the other, older, name for the dunnock is hedge sparrow so you can tell your sister that you're right as well :-D

Dunnock have pointed beaks and dig around on the ground sparrows beaks are more like finches

My Sister is staying with me for a few days and she says that some of the birds I think are Sparrows are Dunnocks :-)

Sounds like a lovely relaxing trip Vera and great that you were so lucky with the weather too. Don't think we are going to be as lucky when we get back home by the forecast.

My goodness, the sparrows love the seed I bought :-). Every time we look out at the feeder, there are 3 sparrows hanging on it and 2 or 3 more lined up on the bough above waiting their turn. At this rate I'll be bankrupt before long.

Yesterday was a friend's 70th birthday so 11 of us ladies (friend made 12) chartered a small boat for a lunch cruise on the Orwell. We couldn't have picked a better day; weather was beautiful. The food was lovely. I don't know how the young chap doing the cooking managed in the tiny space he had but the meals, or at least the main courses and veg, were all fresh cooked, and we didn't order what we wanted from the menu until we boarded. You sometimes see seals in that part of the river but we were unlucky. Lots of birds of course, mainly gulls, but I did think I saw a couple of cormorants.

Then it was all back to one of the ladies' houses for tea and birthday cake. I still feel full up :-D

Hope the weather stays good for you Ann. It's not been bad here today - dull this morning but sunny this afternoon.

Kandj <3, hoping for a better week for your OH.

Well, the birds seem to like the better quality seed I bought, or at least the sparrows do. I filled two feeders yesterday and they are now completely empty. I've only seen sparrows on the feeders but that's a start. OH says that they are just like me. They only like expensive things :-D

Hi, just managed to get on line in the timeshare bar/restaurant. Wifi is very slow here. Weather still great, today we have driven up to see Tenerife Sun (Wendy). A long not pleasant drive up the motorway but it was great to see her again and have a pizza lunch.

<3 Kandj.

Vera a plopping sound in the pond does sound a bit 'frog like' so hopefully it is your little chap :-D

The sun is shining and it is so very warm today.The birds seem a bit quiet as the feeder is still half full from yesterday.Mind you Thomas could be lurking somewhere nearby :-S
He is catching so many Mice these days.My daughter counted at least four that she saw him with the other day !!
We seem to have a very active Hedgehog in the garden.I have seen it 3 times now and boy doesn't it leave a mess .I kept thinking I was seeing Slugs but it is the poo!!
The Woodpeckers seem to have disappeared as I haven't heard them for a while now.

I hope you are still enjoying your holiday Ann and having good weather.

Two weeks today since hubbies flare-up and not a lot of improvement to be honest.
It's not good watching him in so much pain. Thank you for your kind words.

It's been a lovely day here - very breezy but sunny and warm. There were lots of sparrows earlier queuing up on the fence to get to some new fat balls I had put out. I also had a good laugh at a robin having a good old wash in the bird bath. There seemed to be water going everywhere. He appeared to be really enjoying it until a pigeon decided to join him and the robin gave up and flew away.

We haven't seen the frog for some while but I am sure he is still around. You can barely see the tiny "pond" for the vegetation round it but if we get near we hear a plop as something jumps in the water.

I hope Kandj's OH is improving and she is getting some rest. <3

Inara looks a real cutie Ann :-D.It is a beautiful evening here.Not as hot as Tenerife of course but still warm enough for a thin sleeveless top :-)
There don't seem to be as many little Birds around the winder feeder at the moment ,but it might be because Thomas is lying in the Pot of of of the Olive Trees nearby keeping a beady eye open !!

It still doesn't get dark here until 8pm and doesn't get light until 0745.

Message through fine Ann :-D :-D... You have a lovely long holiday then.
We always find when abroad that the drinks are just poured and not measured like here. Great isn't it ;-) ;-).So you are enjoying really hot weather.We are gradually slipping into Autumn .Still lovely but defnitely getting a bit cooler now and my goodness aren't the nights drawing in!!.
We are going to get some logs in soon from the woodshed ready for when we light the Wood Burner for the first time since about April.Not that we will be lighting it any day soon.

Until the 16th Jane. Hope this is coming through ok, surfeit of alcohol this evening, their measures are not like our :-D :-D very hot and sunny so far but it clouded over this evening. Very windy too but not a cokd wind. :-)

ooooh Vera that must have been so uncomfortable for you lying like that with the pressure of a full bladder..Hopefully once you were turned the right way round the pressure eased off a bit.But saying that a full bladder is not good which ever way you are !.All you can think of is needing a wee ! :-S.I hope whatever your scan is for it all comes back good :-D
I had a Mammogram this morning,just the 3 yearly routine one. That is quite an uncomfortable thing having that done ,but at least it is only for a few minutes.

So Sunny Tenerife Ann :-D..How long are you there for?

I am not speaking to Thomas ..He had a llittle bird today :-(.. I think he is making up for his 'time away' :-S

Pop in when you are able Kandj. We'll be pleased to "see" you. Thinking of you both and hoping your OH improves very quickly <3

It is good of you to ask about us when you have so much else on your mind. OH and I are feeling OK, thank you. I had to go for a scan yesterday. I had to drink loads of water and not go to the loo. Of course, as soon as you are told you mustn't spend a penny, that is exactly what you are desperate to do! Anyway, the lady conducting the scan arranged me, in my fetching hospital gown, at the machine with my arms backwards over my head. It was very uncomfortable and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to hold the position for long. The lady disappeared from the room and I lay there waiting for something to happen. Next thing I know, the door bursts open and a horrified face came into view saying "I'm terribly sorry, you're upside down!" That made me laugh which set her off laughing and the pair of us ended up giggling like schoolgirls, not a good idea when you have an over full bladder. Apparently I should have been on my stomach with my arms stretched out in front. No wonder I was uncomrtable before :-D

Glad your Pembrokeshire break went well Jane. I expect Thomas was delighted to see you back. I hope you are having a lovely time Ann and enjoying the heat.

Had a robin in the garden yesterday, the first time I have seen one around for months. I am going to buy some different, branded, bird seed tomorrow when I shop. I don't think the birds are very keen on the one I bought in the market. Fussy lot aren't they?

Kandj, we will continue to think of you both with love and hope that your hubby's flare up which I am sure causes him pain,will soon ease. Don't worry about us, just know we are thinking of you and look forward to you popping in when you are able. <3 <3

Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and good wishes.

My hubby is disabled and our normal daily life is a challenge for the two of us. He has a bad flare-up which is giving him increased pain (poor love) and extra work for me as I care for him, trying to make him as comfortable as he can be just now.
So I'm not posting as often as I have done in the past, simply because there aren't enough hours in our day right now. It can only get better, or at least we do hope so.

Your sunshine holiday sounds good Ann, have a lovely time in Tenerife.

Nice to know your Pembroke holiday was a happy one Jane and your home safely.

Vera, I hope that you and your husband are both feeling better than you were.

Take care everyone. I'll pop in some time when I can find a spare five minutes.

Sounds like a lovely break Jane, we are in Golf del sur Tenerife and it is very hot. Enjoying it to extend the summer but sometimes the UK breaks are more relaxing. I bet Thomas was pleased to see you.

Still thinking of Kandj and OH and sending get well wishes. <3

Home again from Pembrokeshire. We had a lovely break,and the weather was really good all except for about a day and a half of drizzle and rain.Our knees and hips are recovering after walking up and down so many steep roads,steps ,walks. I don't think there is one level place LOL. Stunning Coastline and countryside .The cottage was in the perfect spot ,secluded and looking over the little Harbour in Fishguard.We had a gate in the garden that just took us down to the harbour walk.A little black cat visited us most days and loved a bit of a fuss .I expect he visits all the people who come to stay there.

Last night I saw the first Hedgehog here since we moved in in 1991 !!!.It came running across the patio about 9pm.It had disappeared though by the time I got back out with the camera :-S

Thinking of Kandj and her OH . <3 <3